Chang-min... Bullpen free agent market is 'quiet', go to the leading team
After Kim Jae-yoon signed a contract with the Samsung Lions, there was no news.
The 2023-2024 KBO League free agent market is a bullpen market. Among the 19 players who applied for free agency status from the KBO and were approved, 7 are pure bullpen players. It is one-third of the total. If Jang Min-jae, who alternates between starting and bullpen positions, is classified as a bullpen pitcher, there are 8 of them.
Among the seven pure bullpen players, only Kim Jae-yoon, the biggest player, signed a four-year contract with Samsung worth 5.8 billion won. Ju-won, Hong Geon-hee (above grade A), Ham Deok-ju (above grade B), Dae-woo Kim, Seung-hwan Oh, and Lim Chang-min (above grade C) are still in the free agent market. As the Korean Series ended later than usual, the free agent market also opened relatively late. Nevertheless, it is clear that the free agent market seems to be moving more slowly than in previous years.
As soon as the free agent market opened on November 19, four free agents signed, and last week, only Yang Seok-hwan signed an additional contract. In fact, this means that the free agent market froze as soon as it opened. When clubs coolly evaluate the value of free agents and give them away, they do so with certainty. However, if you don't think so, don't even bother. Although FA is governed by market prices rather than regular prices, the objective stances of clubs must be acknowledged.
We do not simply blindly trust the record of a specific section. Jaeyoon Kim performed poorly in the postseason. However, Samsung evaluated the process and merits of consistently earning 30 saves over the past three years more highly. Regardless of his age, he would have been judged to have good physical ability.
In fact, bullpen pitchers have traditionally not been treated well in the free agent market. This is because there is a strong perception that it is a consumable product. There is a strong perception that if you have performed well enough to qualify as a free agent, you have thrown a lot so far, and there is a high possibility that side effects will appear in the future.
In fact, this has been confirmed in many cases of pitcher free agency in the past. There are many failure cases with starting pitcher free agents, and there is a wide perception that this is not the case with bullpen free agents, who are even more fatigued. So, Jung Woo-ram (Hanwha Eagles), who earned 12.3 billion won through free agent contracts alone, is a great case. Even Jeong Woo-ram was consistent.
Looking at it objectively, there are also concerns about the six free agents on the market. Ju-Ju's performance this season suddenly dropped, and Ham Deok-Ju made a comeback this season, but it is unclear whether this means Average's recovery. It has slowed down in recent years. Hong Geon-hee and Kim Dae-woo's career ERA are 5.10 and 5.75, and many believe that the fact that Oh Seung-hwan and Lim Chang-min are 41 and 38 years old is a risk in itself.
Still, they took the mound faithfully enough to qualify as free agents and proved their skills. These pitchers also have clear technical advantages. There is a good chance that their original club will sign a contract after sufficient time. In the case of Oh Seung-hwan, we consistently hear that he has established rapport with Samsung. Ham Deok-ju has the variable of an identity check by the Major League Secretariat.
We do not simply blindly trust the record of a specific section. Jaeyoon Kim performed poorly in the postseason. However, Samsung evaluated the process and merits of consistently earning 30 saves over the past three years more highly. Regardless of his age, he would have been judged to have good physical ability.
In fact, bullpen pitchers have traditionally not been treated well in the free agent market. This is because there is a strong perception that it is a consumable product. There is a strong perception that if you have performed well enough to qualify as a free agent, you have thrown a lot so far, and there is a high possibility that side effects will appear in the future.
In fact, this has been confirmed in many cases of pitcher free agency in the past. There are many failure cases with starting pitcher free agents, and there is a wide perception that this is not the case with bullpen free agents, who are even more fatigued. So, Jung Woo-ram (Hanwha Eagles), who earned 12.3 billion won through free agent contracts alone, is a great case. Even Jeong Woo-ram was consistent.
Looking at it objectively, there are also concerns about the six free agents on the market. Ju-Ju's performance this season suddenly dropped, and Ham Deok-Ju made a comeback this season, but it is unclear whether this means Average's recovery. It has slowed down in recent years. Hong Geon-hee and Kim Dae-woo's career ERA are 5.10 and 5.75, and many believe that the fact that Oh Seung-hwan and Lim Chang-min are 41 and 38 years old is a risk in itself.
Still, they took the mound faithfully enough to qualify as free agents and proved their skills. These pitchers also have clear technical advantages. There is a good chance that their original club will sign a contract after sufficient time. In the case of Oh Seung-hwan, we consistently hear that he has established rapport with Samsung. Ham Deok-ju has the variable of an identity check by the Major League Secretariat.
The FA market is governed by the laws of supply and demand. As time passes, leadership increasingly shifts to the club. This is also the market price. The psychological Maginot line for players is February 1, when spring training begins next year. Afterwards, you must undergo personal training and continue negotiations. Since there are still two months left, there is time for the agents to push and pull. It is expected that the clubs' objective views on bullpen pitchers will be fully revealed through this free agent market.
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